Vertically oriented particulate matter collector

ABSTRACT

A vertically oriented particulate matter collector having a pan and a handle is disclosed. A lip abuts a flat vertical surface to be drilled, such as a wall. The lip when pressed against the wall prevents falling particulate matter from passing between the lip and the wall. A face, attached to the lip, follows the contour of the lip. A back, attached to the face, defines a cavity for collecting particulate matter. A mouth is defined by the opening of the cavity. A floor, opposite the mouth, attaches to the back and face. A collar at the seam joins the face to the floor. The collar projects a slope away from the back and the face. A toe provides support when the pan is set down. The handle, attaches to the mouth defining edge of the back.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Introduction

Building, maintaining and renovating human dwellings can be dirty work. For health and hygiene people also require clean environments. Hence, measures must be taken to minimize the filth of interior construction.

Typically, workers are more focused on completing a project, than they are in the disruption caused by a dirtied environment. Considerate workers can take steps such as replacing outdoor boots with clean booties, wearing clean uniforms, and practicing proper and conservative personal hygiene.

A preventative, cleaning implement, capable of catching the dusty byproduct of holes drilled in walls would be of great value. Such an implement would save valuable clean-up time by collecting dust before allowing it to spread over a large area. Eliminating a mess also has a psychological benefit to the homeowner bystander, who is already in a state of disruption from the intrusion of a worker into his or her home.

2. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a vertically oriented particulate matter collector for collecting dust resulting from the drilling of holes in walls of varied material.

3. Description of the Prior Art

Dust collectors are disclosed in U.S. Patents. U.S. Pat. No. 6,249,930, to Noggle teaches a dust collector for collecting a mixture of materials, including liquids, from a flat or contoured surface. This improved dust collector has a flexibly movable bottom wall that conforms to the floor contour and means to reduce liquid spill over. Noggles's dust collector has a cavity in which the liquid waste is disposed.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,826,297 to Footer, et al., a dust collector includes a pan with a lip at one edge of the perimeter of the pan floor and a wall surrounding the perimeter of the pan floor from one end of the lip to the other. A grip and a generally U-shaped footplate are attached to the pan opposite the lip. The grip and the footplate can be separated by a void. Several of the dust collectors can be nested. The footplate can be attached to points on the outer wall that are separated by a curve in the outer wall.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,892,419 to Duprey teaches a scalloped edge dust collector. Duprey's dust collector eliminates the line of dust or debris that is often left on the floor when dust or debris is swept in to a conventional, straight-edge dust collector. The front or leading edge of the base or blade is a continuous series of semicircular segments or protrusions forming a scalloped edge. The scallops may be beveled so that the scalloped edge tapers downward towards the front of the base.

Numerous design patents are directed to the ornamental design of dust collectors. U.S. Pat. No. D345,238 to Berti, U.S. Pat. No. D267,592 to Payne, Jr., et al., U.S. Pat. No. D556,968 to Juergens, and U.S. Pat. No. D555,316 to Flay are several examples.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a vertically oriented particulate matter collector, commonly referred to as a dust collector.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a dust collector that can be placed on a wall, below where a worker drills a hole, so that the pan collects the resulting dust before the dust spreads and pollutes the immediate environment.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a dust collector that fits in a worker's belt.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a dust collector so shaped that allows dust to fall into it, while making it difficult for dust to blow out of it.

Yet another objective is to provide a dust collector that forms a tight seal to the wall without leaving a surface to gather dust.

These and other objects of the invention are accomplished by providing a dust collector with a lipped-pan, for abutting a flat vertical surface. that catches falling particulate matter from passing between the lip and the vertical surface.

Other objects and further scope of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter. However, it should be understood, that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

The present invention will be better understood from the accompanying drawings with which are given by way of illustration only.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the dust collector of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a view of the dust collector of the present invention from the bottom of the dust collector.

FIG. 3 is a view of the dust collector of the present invention from the top of the dust collector.

FIG. 4 is a view of the dust collector of the present invention from the side of the dust collector perpendicular to the wall facing side of the duspan.

FIG. 5 is a view of the dust collector of the present invention from the wall facing side of the dust collector towards the handle of the dust collector.

The present invention will be better understood from the detailed description given herein below.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The vertically oriented particulate matter collector of the invention is illustrated in FIG. 1 and designated generally by reference numeral 10. For convenience the invention can simply be referred to as a dust collector. With reference now to the drawings and in particular to FIG. 1, the dust collector is seen to comprise two basic components, namely: a pan 100, and a handle 200. Each of these components will be discussed in detail below.

The pan 100 has a lip 112 for abutting a flat vertical surface, namely a wall. When the lip is pressed against the wall falling particulate matter, commonly referred to as dust, does not pass between the wall and the lip 112. Further, as the lip is formed from the rest of the pan, there are no crevices or rough spots to trap the dust. Trapped dust allows subsequent air currents to disperse the dust. It is important that once the dust falls it does not leave the pan. The wide lip 112 catches most of the dust. A lip 112 of at least five (5) inches is sufficient for most drilling of holes in sheet rock or wood. However, larger lips 112 would be needed for correspondingly larger holes.

The face 114 attaches to the lip 112. As previously mentioned, the lip 112 is formed from the same material as the rest of the pan 100. The seamless integration eliminates a spot for dust to temporarily rest before dirtying the immediate environment. The face 114 follows the contour of the lip 112. The face 114 is substantially parallel to the wall that the worker is drilling. This configuration allows the captured dust to fall straight down, avoiding air currents that might disturb the dust of a shallower or less parallel pan.

The back 116 attaches to the face 114. The back 116 and the face 114 define the cavity of the pan 100. The opening at the top of the pan is a mouth 110 defined by the opening of the cavity.

At the opposite end of the mouth 110, a floor 118 attaches to the back 116 and the face 114. The floor 118 tilts down to the collar 120. The collar 120 is at the seam joining the face 114 to the floor 118. The collar 120 is marked by an indentation on the outside surface of the face 114, and on the inside by a seam whereby gravity directs the first dust to fall into and along that seam. It is beneficial to direct the dust to a small area. In doing so, the dust particles cling to each other and become a heavier mass. The heavier mass is less likely to be blown out of the pan by ambient air currents.

As previously mentioned, one aspect of the invention is the improved ability to capture dust and keep it in the pan 100. Other features assist in reaching this goal.

The thin plastic material vibrates as a result of vibration energy being transferred from the worker's drill, to the wall, then the lip 112 it is pressed against, and then finally the walls of the face 114, back 116, and floor 118. The vibrations discourage dust from clinging to the upper portions of the pan 100, facilitating the dust's journey to the lowest portions of the floor 118.

The cavity forming sides of the face 114, back 116, and floor 118 are also smooth to further discourage dust from clinging.

A foot 122 provides stability when a worker desires to place the dust collector of the present invention down, resting the collector on a substantially horizontal surface. The foot 122 attaches to the collar 120, and the foot 122 flares towards the wall. The foot 112 helps to maintain the pan in an upright position with the help of the handle 220. This can been seen in FIG. 4, a view of the dust collector 10 from the side perpendicular to the wall.

A toe 124 is formed by the edge of the foot 112 distal to the collar 120. It is upon the toe 124 that the pan 100 contacts a surface perpendicular to the wall, when a worker places the dust collector 10 down.

With principle reference to FIG. 1, discussion is now directed to the handle 200 of the dust collector 10. The handle 200 has first and second wings 210, 212 attached to the mouth 110 defining edge of the back 116.

A neck 226 attached to the wings 210, 212, the neck 226 projecting away from and parallel to the pan 100.

A convex surface 222 faces the back 116 of the pan 100, the convex surface 222 attached to the neck 226 and continuous with the back a concave surface 224 on the opposite side of the convex surface 222, the concave surface 224 continuous with the mouth 110.

A tip 218, at the end of the handle distal to the neck 226, the concave and convex surfaces 222, 224 meeting at the tip 218, whereby the tip 218 supports the handle 200 in an upright position when placed down.

A knob 220 on the convex surface 222 of the handle, the knob 220 protrudes toward the back and the knob.

In everyday use, a worker would use the presently claimed invention in the following manner. He or she holds the dust collector flush against a wall with the lip 112 directly under the place where the hole is to be drilled. The worker drills the hole, and the resulting dust or particulate matter falls into the collector. After the hole is drilled, the worker might hook the handle of the collector onto his/her work belt. The collector is thus conveniently stored, ready to drill another hole. 

1. A vertically oriented particulate matter collector, comprising: a pan, having a lip for abutting a flat vertical surface, whereby the lip when pressed against the vertical surface prevents falling particulate matter from passing between the lip and the vertical surface; a face, attached to the lip the face following the contour of the lip; a back, attached to the face, whereby the back and face define a cavity for collecting particulate matter, and a mouth defined by the opening of the cavity; a floor, opposite the mouth, the floor attached to the back and face; a collar at the seam joining the face to the floor, the collar projecting a slope away from the back and the face; a foot attached to the collar; a toe formed by the edge of the foot distal to the collar; a handle, having first and second wings attached to the mouth defining edge of the back; a neck attached to the wings, the neck projecting away from and parallel to the pan towards the floor and foot of the pan; a convex surface facing the back, the convex surface attached to the neck and continuous with the back; a concave surface on the opposite side of the convex surface, the concave surface continuous with the mouth; a tip, at the end of the handle distal to the neck, the concave and convex surfaces meeting at the tip, whereby the tip supports the handle in an upright position when placed down; and a knob on the convex surface of the handle, the knob protruding toward the back and the knob on the concave surface forming a recess.
 2. The vertically oriented particulate matter collector claim 1, wherein the collector is made of smooth plastic. 